Member Article

Smart meters to bring £7bn in benefits

Government plans to introduce smart meters across the UK will create £7 billion in benefits and help slash carbon emissions, according to Click Green.

In 2014 smart meters will be installed in millions of homes and businesses across the country, and promise to bring numerous benefits for consumers, helping to cut energy consumption, save money and reduce carbon emissions.

The Government consultation on key aspects of the scheme including privacy, data security and consumer engagement is set to close on June 1, and the Energy Minister Charles Hendry is keen to explain the benefits to consumers.

He commented: “Smart meters will provide accurate consumption information and bring an end to estimated billing – so no more nasty surprises for consumers – and will make switching between suppliers smoother and faster.

“They will also help suppliers run their businesses more effectively. New products and services will be supported in a vibrant and competitive market in energy and energy management services.

“The roll-out will also support the development of a smart grid delivering improved network efficiency and responsiveness and supporting the uptake of electric vehicles and microgeneration.

Unider the Government scheme, energy suppliers will be required to install smart meters in 28 million homes and 2 million small businesses. It is believed that the scheme could deliver over £7 billion net benefit to the UK economy.

While the scheme is set to officially commence in 2014, some energy suppliers have already started installing smart meters. It is due for completion by 2019.

He added: “We want to ensure that the benefits of the programme are maximised and that consumers are protected.

“We are consulting on a series of measures, such as how consumers should be engaged and how data can be accessed and protected, which underline our determination to put consumers’ interests at the heart of the programme.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .